It’s freaking difficult to workout with a newborn. It just is, plain and simple. You’re exhausted, they’re crying, if you’re breastfeeding you’re craving food every 5 minutes, and if you’re back at work, there’s just not enough time in the day to fit in a work out.

I thankfully am still on Maternity Leave and plan to keep going for a year, but still I am finding it hard to keep motivated and focused. I keep trying to talk myself out of working out and then trying to eat healthily when I’m still feeling pregnancy like cravings becomes a bit of a chore. Before pregnancy, I was generally quite fit. I had my insecurities about my body, but I could look in the mirror and be happy with what I saw. While pregnant, I had reached the fattest I had ever been in my entire life and am now stuck with a few spots that require some extra attention. Granted, I never thought this would be easy. I wouldn’t be able to just do a few workouts and have my pre-pregnancy body back. I knew this time I would have to work and I’ve been in dire need of motivation.

Today I came across an article about a woman named Abby Pellwho states that she has abs and a child and “no excuses”. She was unfortunately attacked by other women for bragging about her accomplishment and “fat shaming”, but I actually found some motivation and inspiration within her display. No Excuses. I keep giving myself reasons to not work out, reasons to eat poorly. It’s really easy. But I want to change that about myself, so I feel like I just need to keep telling myself “No Excuses” and if anything I’ve already been doing that with raising a baby.

With Ali, I have to take care of her. If she’s hungry at 3am, I have to feed her. If she’s soiled her nappy 10 minutes after her last change, I have to change her. No excuses. It’s that simple. If I can apply the same attitude towards working out and working in general, I might find that I can achieve my goals a lot faster. I have to start out small, so for the next few weeks, I’m telling myself to do at least 3 or more work outs and I will make sure to keep up with a healthy diet. No excuses.

Granted, there will be times where I can’t do an entire workout. She’ll need me to feed or change her, but as long as I try, there’s no harm done. I’m not really trying for abs like she has (although I wouldn’t mind them!). I more so just want to feel good about my body again. So thank you Abby Pell for giving me a much needed kick up the backside. I can do this. No excuses.

About Me

My name is Elle and I am a new mummy to a little girl named Alessandra as of November 29th, 2015. I currently live in the United Kingdom with my English husband and have a weakness for owls, squirrels, and pizza.

I've created this blog to try and help people like myself who are venturing into the somewhat terrifying world of pregnancy and motherhood and hope to share the lessons that I have learned along the way.